Data Entry via On-Screen Display

ABSTRACT

A recording playback device having a database of recordings with titles, automatically enters a title input mode upon receiving character input from a user while a recording is being played if the there is not title in the database for the recording. Playback of the recording is not interrupted in the title input mode. In the case of a DVD player, the on-screen display mode is used to display the characters entered by the user on the same video display used for video content from the DVD.

REFERENCE TO COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING, COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

A compact disc is included herewith and incorporated by reference hereinhaving thereon a computer program listing appendix in the ASCIIuncompressed text format with ASCII carriage return, ASCII line feed andall control codes defined in ASCII, having computer compatibility withIBM PC/XT/AT or compatibles, having operating system compatibility withMS-Windows and including file PROGRA˜1.TXT (ProgramListing.txt inWindows) of 5,792 bytes, created on Nov. 28, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to entering text using consumerelectronics equipment, and, more particularly, to entering informationrelated to recordings accessible for playing by the consumer electronicsequipment.

2. Description of the Related Art

The use of disc changers to play compact discs (CDs) and digitalversatile discs (DVDs) has increased significantly in recent years, butit remains difficult for users to identify a disc or obtain informationabout discs in a changer. Many disc changers available today,particularly those holding 50 or more discs, maintain a database of thediscs stored in the changer. However, the input device used to entertextual information, such as titles of the discs, may be on thefaceplate of the disc changer or on a handheld remote. Some equipmentdoes have separate alphanumeric keyboards for data input, but the inputmode is completely separate from playing the discs. This is similar toalphanumeric input in video games, such as when saving a game. Allaction stops while the text input occurs.

An example of a system that pauses playback of video data to permit dataentry is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,468 to Baryla which isdirected to digital video displayed on a personal computer, rather thanprerecorded video on discs. The text entered while the video is pausedis used to provide comments by reviewers prior to distribution of thevideo, to aid in scene selection and editing. No description is providedin the '468 patent of how the title is initially associated with thevideo; the first mention of entering a title is in reference toselecting the video to be played back.

One of the problems with entering textual data related to DVDs and CDsis associating the textual data with a disc. The way this is usuallydone is to first input a slot identifier identifying a position in thechanger, and then input the text associated with the slot. This requiresthat the user know what disc is in each slot for which textual data isbeing entered. Many times a user will have no idea what is in each slotof the changer at this point. This requires that the disc be removedfrom the changer to determine what the disc is. This can often causeissues with the changer identification because the changer keys onwhether the user has removed or inserted discs. The simple action oftaking the disc out to identify it often kicks off a chain reactionwhere the changer tries to do something with the disc once it isreinserted. The user must also be careful in most cases to place thedisc back into the exact same slot in the changer. Failure to do so canresult in incorrect information being displayed for the disc because itis now in a different slot than expected by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to simplify the process ofinputting textual data related to recordings, such as DVDs and CDs.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide text input forentering titles of DVDs and CDs during playback of a recording storedthereon.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to use existing on-screendisplay (OSD) capabilities of DVD players for display of textual dataentered by a user for use as a title of the DVD.

The above aspect can be obtained by a method of inputting textassociated with a recording, including detecting activation of a datainput device during playback of the recording and automatically enteringa data input mode in response to activation of the data input device,while continuing playback of the recording. When the recording generatesa video display, preferably the text entered by the user is displayed onthe same screen as the video, e.g., using an on-screen displaycapability of the playback device.

Preferably, as the data input mode is automatically entered, the firstcharacter entered is captured in addition to initiating data entry forsubsequent characters of a title for the recording, but only if a titlefor the recording is not already stored in a database. This avoidsgeneration of the on-screen display caused by an accidental activationof a input device, such as a wireless keyboard. Preferably, a keycombination, such as Ctrl-Alt-Shift-M, is used to enter a “MasterEdit”mode in which the title and any other information related to the discthat is stored may be edited. This technique may be used to identifydiscs in a DVD changer using a database containing at least DVDidentifiers and titles, permitting users to select discs in the changerby title.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will besubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus in which the present inventioncan be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be implemented on any type of playback devicethat includes a way to provide title information to a user.Conventionally, information about a recording is presented to a user onsome type of display, although some devices may use speech synthesis orrecorded voice to provide audio output of the title. In the exemplaryembodiment described below, the invention is used in conjunction with aDVD changer and the video screen that displays the video portion of arecording on a DVD is used to display the textual information entered bya user. However, conventional DVD playback devices are able to playbackrecordings in other formats, such as compact discs, video compact discs,etc. Regardless of whether there is video content on the recording, theon-screen display typically provided in DVD playback devices can be usedduring playback of a recording. Playback devices which do not have thisinherent capability can be modified or connected to another device toprovide a display for input of textual data.

In the preferred embodiment, a controller for a DVD changer includes thecomponents illustrated in FIG. 1. In this example, the controller uses apersonal computer architecture that includes conventional Northbridge 10and Southbridge 12 structures (VT82C598MVP and VT82C686A, respectively,from VIA Technologies, Inc. of Taipei, Taiwan), a processor (CPU 14),such as a K6 2/400AFK from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. of Sunnyvale,Calif., cache memory 16, main memory (SDRAM) 18, BIOS ROM 20 andinput/output interfaces, such as USB-IR 22 which in this case providesinterface for remote input via a wireless (infrared) keyboard 24. Othercomponents illustrated in FIG. 1 that are commonly found in personalcomputers include 1394 controller 26 for interfacing with externaldevices, such as other DVD changer(s) using the IEEE-1394 standard alsoknown as FIREWIRE and hard drive 28 which may be an Integrated DriveElectronics Interface (IDE) hard drive connected to CPU 14 via IDE bus29. Components required for playback of DVDs that are also connected tothe Northbridge structure 10 and Southbridge structure 12 via PCI bus 30or ISA bus 32, include MPEG2 decoder 34, such as an EM8220 from SigmaDesigns of Milpitas, Calif., and audio DSP 36, such as a CrystalCS492604-CL from Cirrus Logic of Austin, Tex. The video output signal isgenerated by video processor 38, such as a CyberPro 5005 from TVIA, Inc.of Santa Clara, Calif. using video memory (e.g., SDRAM) 40 to produce anoutput at video output 42.

As noted above, conventional video playback devices often include anon-screen text display used for indicating selected channel or videoinput, rewind, play, fast forward, etc. The present invention utilizesthis conventional capability of video processors like the CyberPro 5005to display text over video signals that continue to be displayed. Ifdesired, the size of the text that is conventionally displayed may bereduced slightly to enable an entire title to appear on the screen.Processor 14 serves as a control unit to specify the text to bedisplayed by video processor 38, serving as an output unit, in responseto input of data received by USB-IR 22 as a data input unit and harddrive 28 as a storage unit.

An example of the procedure performed by CPU 14 is illustrated in FIG.2. In a conventional manner, a recording, such as a DVD movie, isselected and begins to be played in response to user inputs. In thepreferred embodiment, a disc identification process is used to obtaintitles of DVDs without requiring user input. Information on the DVD isread 46 and at least one database is searched 48 for title information.The database containing titles and other information may be pre-storedin the playback device, or accessible from a local or remote deviceconnected to the playback device, via a local serial connection or theInternet. The disc identifier used may be any information stored on orassociated with the disc.

When CPU 14 detects 50 playback of a DVD that does not have a titlestored in a database accessible by the playback device, playback of theDVD begins 52 in conventional full-screen video mode while CPU 14monitors for keyboard input. If activation of any character key isdetected 54 during playback of the DVD contents, i.e., anytime duringplayback of video or menus from the DVD, CPU 14 enters a data input modefor the title of the DVD using the on-screen display capability providedby video processor 38. The character that activates the data input modeis captured as the first character in the title of the DVD.

When CPU 14 detects 56 the end of data input, e.g., by the userdepressing the “Enter” key, the title that has been entered anddisplayed using the on-screen display is stored 58 in the database.Preferably, playback settings, such as language, surround sound mode,and any other user-selectable settings set using CPU 14 are stored inthe database, so that these settings can automatically be used the nexttime the DVD is played. A confirmation message indicating “titleupdated” is displayed using the on-screen display for a short period oftime and then the on-screen display disappears in a manner similar tothe display of “PLAY” by conventional video cassette recorders. Theinformation in the database can be used not only for display on thevideo screen via video out 42, but also on any other display that canreceive information from CPU 14, such as a liquid crystal display (notshown) on the housing of the DVD changer.

In the preferred embodiment, the on-screen display capabilities of videoprocessor 38 are also used to edit data stored in the database, evenwhile contents of the DVD are being displayed. Preferably, a special keycombination, such as Ctrl-Alt-Shift-M, is used to enter a data editmode. When CPU 14 detects 60 the special key combination, the on-screendisplay is activated to display contents of the database record for theDVD. The title can be changed and any other information, such as styleor rating may be changed. In the preferred embodiment, playback settingsare automatically updated in the database record if there is a change.Optionally, a confirmation to change the settings may be displayed usingthe on-screen display, and a password may be requested to alter thecontents of the database.

In addition to the special key combination to access all contents of thedatabase, CPU 14 preferably monitors 62 for keywords, such as STYLE andRATING. Assuming the title has already been entered, the characters arenot displayed until a complete keyword is detected. In response todetecting a keyword, CPU 14 causes video processor 38 to display aprompt, such as “ready for style name” or “ready for rating”. Subsequentcharacters are displayed as they are entered and are stored uponreceiving an end of data indication in response to which the database isupdated as described above for the title.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilledin the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exactconstruction and operation illustrated and described, and accordinglyall suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, fallingwithin the scope of the invention.

1-25. (canceled)
 26. A method of inputting text associated with arecording, comprising: playing the recording on a video screen; duringplayback of the recording, detecting a first text character entered by akeyboard; in response to detection of the first text character, enteringa text input mode, wherein playback of the recording is continued on atleast a portion of the video screen, and wherein the first textcharacter is displayed on the video screen; during the text input mode,receiving subsequent text characters entered by the keyboard anddisplaying the subsequent text characters on the video screen; andstoring the first text character and subsequent text character as textassociated with the recording.
 27. A method as recited in claim 26,further comprising: in response to detection of the first textcharacter, determining whether a title of the recording is previouslystored; wherein the text input mode is entered only if the title of therecording is not previously stored.
 28. A method as recited in claim 26,wherein the first text character and subsequent text characters arestored as the title of the recording.
 29. A method as recited in claim26, wherein the recording is a digital versatile disc.
 30. A method asrecited in claim 26, wherein entering a text input mode includesgenerating a text display by a digital versatile disc player usingon-screen display capability.
 31. A method as recited in claim 30,wherein the storing uses a database accessible by the digital versatiledisc player, the database including at least identifiers and titles fordigital versatile discs, and wherein the method further comprisesdetermining, in response to detection of the first text character,whether the digital versatile disc currently being played has acorresponding identifier in the database.
 32. A system comprising: avideo player operative to play a recording by outputting a video signalstored on the recording, the video player further being operative togenerate an on-screen text display; a keyboard; a storage unit thatassociates recording identifiers with text data; and a control unitcoupled to the video player, the keyboard, and the storage unit, thecontrol unit being operative, during playing of the recording, to detecta first text character entered by a keyboard, to enter a text input modein response to detection of the first text character, to receivesubsequent text characters, and to cause the storage unit to store thefirst text character and subsequent text characters entered by thekeyboard during the text input mode as text associated with therecording.
 33. A system as recited in claim 32, wherein the control unitis operative to communicate the first text character and subsequent textcharacters entered by the keyboard during the text input mode controlunit to the video player, and wherein the video player is operative todisplay the first text character and subsequent text characters in theon-screen text display while continuing to play the recording.
 34. Asystem as recited in claim 32, the control unit further being operative,in response to detection of the first text character, to determinewhether, in the storage unit, text data is associated with a recordingidentifier that corresponds to the recording being played, the controlunit being operative to enter the text input mode only upon adetermination that no text data is associated with the recordingidentifier.
 35. A system as recited in claim 32, further comprising avideo screen coupled to the video player to receive the video signal,wherein the video player is operative to overlay the video output withthe on-screen text display in the text input mode.
 36. A system asrecited in claim 32, wherein the text associated with the recording isthe title of the recording.
 37. A system as recited in claim 32, whereinthe recording is a digital versatile disc, wherein the storage unitincludes a database, and wherein the database associates titles ofdigital versatile discs with identifiers of digital versatile discs. 38.At least one program embodied on a computer readable medium, the programcontrolling a programmable device to perform a method comprising:playing a recording on a video screen; during playback of the recording,detecting a first text character entered by a keyboard; in response todetection of the first text character, entering a text input mode,wherein playback of the recording is continued on at least a portion ofthe video screen, and wherein the first text character is displayed onthe video screen; during the text input mode, receiving subsequent textcharacters entered by the keyboard and displaying the subsequent textcharacters on the video screen; and storing the first text character andsubsequent text characters as text associated with the recording.